Ireland's West coast has long been known to local surfers as offering some of the biggest and best waves in Europe, but it's only recently that the secret has begun to spread, and surfers from other parts of the world are now coming to visit the Emerald Isle to experience its big waves for themselves.
Ireland has occasionally featured on the travelling surfer's itinerary as a quirky place to visit, but the country is now getting more and more recognition as a serious big wave surf location - and recent pictures in the Belfast Telegraph that show a surfer riding a record breaking 60 foot wave in Mullaghmore Head, County Sligo, prove that Ireland has the surf to complete with the likes of Hawaii, Australia and Indonesia.
Though there are surf breaks all around the Irish coast, it's the west which has the best waves. As the Atlantic crashes against the Irish shores, it throws up hundreds of superb surfing spots. It's the great quality of surf, the regular offshore conditions and the uncrowded waves that are the big pull for surfers; some spots regularly hold waves of 20ft or more. Donegal Bay and County Mayo offer the best choice of surf spots, between them there are in the region of 20 breaks.
Beginners should visit somewhere like Strand Hill, a beach break that is ideal for getting an introduction to surfing. Intermediates looking for something more challenging could try Bundoran, a left and right beach break which offers a ride of up to 100m. Hard core surfers can test their skills at Easky Right, though with a hard rock bottom, you'll pay the price if you mess up! Getting to this part of the country from London is easy, with cheap flights to Knock now available, which is just a short drive from the coastline.
A word of warning though: if you're a fair weather surfer, you may want to pack a thick wetsuit. Ireland's seas are generally quite cold, though the Gulf Stream means that the water is warmer than Ireland's northerly location would suggest. A good winter wetsuit should enable you to enjoy the waves all day. And there's always a cosy pub nearby, in which you can enjoy a pint of Guiness as you warm up by the crackling log fire. Indeed, it's not just Ireland's waves that are attracting surfers; the legendary hospitality and the "craic" are also big draws for visitors.
As word of Ireland's giant waves spreads further, it's likely that more and more of the world's surfers will be drawn to the Emerald Isle to try out the craic for themselves.